About this Blog

For several recent years, I taught a college class called “War Stories” – a literature class that promoted the universal skills of reading, analysis, research, and presentation – but which drew entirely from the literature of war and social conflict. (For examples of what we read and discussed, select the “War Stories” tab above.)

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One of my primary goals for this blog is to represent the many elements that make up the experiences (and stories) of war and social conflict.

I also hope to represent the many experiences that mirror war – the battles people fight in their daily lives to maintain personal, emotional, family stability, and to occasionally make progress. These battles might include struggling against oppression (or working just as hard to live with it), struggling to regain one’s voice when it has been marginalized or silenced, struggling against social (or gender) inequity, or struggling with the many varieties of severe or chronic illness – in particular, but not exclusively, mental illness and mental disorders.

Ideally, the lines between all these battles and wars will blur as I continue to publish — as it becomes clearer that these experiences are ones we share, not ones that separate us. If I can manage this at all, you will see how our struggles can become elemental – and how we accomplish most when we stand together to fight our battles and to wage our wars.

Thank you for visiting. I welcome you to express your responses in writing, after any post or on the Dialogs page. No, you do not need to agree with me to speak with me. I’m happy to listen to everyone, and I promise to work hard to respond thoughtfully to thoughtful comments.